Sen. Rick Gudex won't seek re-election

State Sen. Rick Gudex, R-Fond du Lac, announced Monday he won't be seeking re-election to the 18th Senate District seat in 2016.

Within 15 minutes of Gudex's announcement, Fond du Lac County Republican Party Chairman Dan Feyen announced his intentions to run for the seat.

Gudex, the state Senate's president pro tempore, was elected in 2012 and currently serves as chairman of the Economic Development and Commerce Committee; vice chairman of the Workforce Development, Public Works and Military Affairs Committee; and a member of the Universities and Technical Colleges Committee and the Joint Legislative Council.

He also serves as a board member of the controversial Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. and a member of the Wisconsin Small Business Advisory Center Network Advisory Board.

“It has been an honor and a privilege to be able to serve the citizens of the 18th district," Gudex said in a statement. "I am confident that the decisions made during my term in office have and will continue to keep the great State of Wisconsin moving forward."

During his nearly four years in office, Gudex authored the Wisconsin Fast Forward legislation and fought to preserve the Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit, according to a news release. After spending 26 years of his career in manufacturing management, Gudex said he hasn't lost his love for manufacturing and will return to the private sector once his term expires.

"Knowing Rick for so long, I can tell this was a difficult decision for him and his family," Fitzgerald said in a statement. "He has done a wonderful job representing the people of Oshkosh and Fond du Lac; he has a passion for reforming government and making Wisconsin a better place to live, find a job and raise a family.

State Senate Democratic Committee Executive Director Matt Ullsvik said Gudex's departure signals "the public's growing dissatisfaction" with what he called the Republicans' special interest agenda.

"Rather than another rubber stamp for Gov. Walker's divide-and-conquer politics, Fox Valley families deserve a senator willing to stand up for their values, grow the economy and strengthen the middle class," Ullsvik said in a statement.

Dan Feyen(Photo: Courtesy of Feyen for Senate)

Dan Feyen, 47, who announced Monday his intent to run for the seat vacated by Gudex, has served as chairman of the local party since 2007 and chairman of the 6th Congressional District Republican Party since 2010, according to a news release.

"Many employers are hiring but tell me they can't find skilled workers," Feyen said in a statement. "That is why as your senator I will bring my conservative values to Madison to work on closing the skills gap throughout Wisconsin by supporting our educational system at all levels. Feyen also said he would work to improve Wisconsin's infrastructure.

Gudex defeated Democrat Jessica King of Oshkosh by about 600 votes in November 2012, after serving in the Senate for 15 months. King won an August 2011 recall election against Republican Randy Hopper of Fond du Lac by 1,254 votes. With the exception of King's 17-month tenure, a Republican has held the 18th Senate District seat since Morvin Duel defeated Democrat Morley Kelly in 1936.

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Mark Harris(Photo: File / Oshkosh Northwestern Media)

The current 18th Senate District is home to the 170,000 citizens who live in an area roughly triangulated by the cities of Fond du Lac, Oshkosh and Waupun and contains portions of Winnebago, Fond du Lac and Calumet counties.

Winnebago County Executive Mark Harris, a Democrat, announced Sept. 16 he would challenge Gudex in the 2016 election.

"I'm going to take any opponent seriously," Harris said Monday. "I do think that I probably will be a better-known name in the district, but we don't know for sure who (else) is going to be involved in this race.

"There is some advantage for me in not having an experienced politician in the race."